It says a lot about the current status of Serie A, when anything other than another Scudetto success for Juventus would be considered a big surprise. In recent times, the league has been dominated in cycles, with Milan dominating, followed by local rivals Inter and then Juventus. However, the quality of each respective squad has remained high, with each team being capable of winning the Serie A and Champions League.
However, the past few seasons has seen age catch up with the extremely talented Inter Milan team that Jose Mourinho led to an infamous treble, whilst the core of Milan’s team has slowly been stripped away. All this has happened while Juventus have risen from the ashes to claim back their place as part of Italy’s top trio.
Thanks to Stephan El Shaarawy, Milan have slowly picked up points despite looking like a ghost of the teams of yesteryear. The personalities and the success Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Kaka loom large over the San Siro; the quality they possessed has not been adequately replaced. The sales of Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibramohivic have ripped the soul and heart out of the heart of the Milan team, and now is the time for experienced heads such as Antonio Nocerino, Kevin Prince Boateng and Ignazio Abate among others to stand up and be counted.
Internazionale. What has kept Inter Milan competing for top honours over the past 10 years is a strong midfield and even stronger pair of centre backs. Build from the back, if you want solid foundations. The Jose Mourinho era, the period when the squad peaked and came together perfectly is an era which the club would like to return to, and although it does not look a possibility at this moment, the signs in recent weeks have been nothing but encouraging.
Inter in recent weeks have battled too two hard fought wins, 2-1 against a strong Fiorentina outfit and a crucial Milan derby victory by a solitary goal. It has highlighted that the Nerazzurri; despite not displaying the flair shown in past seasons; have the steel and gumption to battle to 3 points. A team in transition indeed, who are not playing their best football, yet Inter have a 71% win ratio so far. Could this be the form of champions elect?
Stalwarts Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso provide the steel and heartbeat of the club, but even as they are being phased out, a new generation looks to be shaping up nicely, one containing a mix of flair and steel. Aside from the obvious, magician Wesley Sneijder, the creativity and skill of Philippe Coutinho can be called upon, with the youngster finding his feet after a successful loan stint in Spain; the intelligence of Andrea Ranocchia can soften the loss of Samuel and midfielders Ricardo Alvarez and Freddy Guarin can only improve as the season progresses.
All in all the signs are promising for Inter. There could well be life in the old dog yet.
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